In the USA and Australia, the Retaliator was also available in the so-called „Rapid Strike Mission Kit“ (not to be confused with the N-Strike Elite RapidStrike CS-18). Shoulder stock, barrel extension and assault grip were omitted, and the twelve dart clip was replaced by two eighteen dart clips. In the USA, the set was exclusively available at Kohl’s stores, whereas in Australia, it was exclusiv to Big W. The blaster itself was identical to the regular release, with the exception of the gray trigger and the reduced firing range typical for Australian N-Strike Elite blasters (more on that later).

In 2014, the set also arrived at German retail, marketed under the name „Rapid Strike Mission-Set“ and (to my knowledge) exclusive to Galeria Kaufhof department stores. A first glimpse immediately shows that something is different about this blaster.

Before I deal with the question whether only the version from the Rapid Strike Mission Kit is affected, I would like to discuss the packaging. First up is the original version of the Retaliator. Please note that the depicted blaster held by a Nerf model is a prototype. The paint operations have always been inaccurate compared to the deco of the mass-produced version.

Like in the Strongarm’s case, the Retaliator’s packaging has also been changed: The face of the Nerf model has been replaced with a considerably younger boy; however, in this case, it’s obvious that a photo editing software was used. The body is identical in both versions, only the head has been replaced. The blaster depicted is also identical, still showing the prototype deco. The back of the packaging also depicts the prototype in both versions.

A further packaging variant (!) keeps the body of the original Nerf model and the face of the new model, but the deco of the depicted blaster has been changed using a photo editing software, now accurately depicting the paint operations of the „economy version“.

The back of the packaging now also depicts the econmy version. If the stock photo is to be believed, only the paint operations of the blaster itself have been reduced. Shoulder stock, barrel extension and assault grip are unchanged.

Since I’m not really interested in purchasing two more versions of the Retaliator, I’ll just show you the economy version of the Retaliator with the accessories of the standard version for the sake of simplicity. Skylynx, who is in the possession of the first packaging variants, confirms that the shoulder stock uses less gray, whereas the barrel extension is apparently unchanged. I assume the included twelve dart clip also sports a minor change, but I intend to address the clips another time.

To round this off, here’s a brief bonus in particular for my American readers. In both the Transformers and Nerf fandoms, I often encounter the term „international packaging“, which is in fact rather unspecific. Therefore, here is a brief explanation using the Retaliator as an example. All four images are official Hasbro promotional photos used here under fair use. From left to right, from top to bottom:

United States packaging, texts in English language only. The included blaster has the standard range (the packaging advertizes 75 feet) and an orange trigger.

Canadian/Latin American packaging, trilingual (English, French and Spanish; recently, many Hasbro products have even been available in packaging sporting four languages, with Portuguese as the fourth). If Canadian Nerf collectors are to be believed, this packaging type isn’t available in the English-speaking part of Canada, unlike in the case of the Transformers franchise; instead, US packaging is used there. For the French-speaking part of Canada, however, this packaging type is definitely confirmed. The included blaster has the standard range (the packaging advertizes 22 meters) and an orange trigger.

Australian/New Zealand packaging, texts in English only. The included blaster is modified and has a reduced range (the packaging advertizes 15 meters) and a gray trigger.

European packaging (often also incorrectly, or at least inadequately, referred to as „UK packaging“ by both US and UK fans), currently sporting thirteen languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Greek, Polish, Turkish and Russian). The included blaster has the standard range (the packaging advertizes 20 meters) and an orange trigger.

As you can see, there is more than just one „international“ packaging type.